De-icing and anti-icing are crucial preventive measures for the smooth functioning of daily activities in the winter. People working in road safety, traffic management, import-export, airlines and travel sectors regularly rely on de-icers and anti-icers during the cold months to remove ice from the road and other surfaces.
In case of heavy snowfall or snowstorms, the snow aggregates on roads, pavement, cars, airplanes, rooftops, and runways, among others. Though the snow on rooftops does not cause much of a problem, the same cannot be said of the snow that piles up on roads, runaways, and pavement and freezes the surface. This can cause accidents while walking or driving. The risk is greater for the airline industry that needs ice-free airplane surfaces and runways before the planes can be allowed to fly. In industrial applications, the cold will freeze coal and other aggregates to the inside of the rail cars and conveyor belts that carry these products.
De-icing techniques are used in such cases to remove the ice and to prevent the coal or aggregates from freezing to the sides of the rail cars and conveyor systems. The de-icing measures include the application of various sophisticated chemicals that melt the ice or frost build up before it can impact the structure beneath. These chemicals include liquid potassium acetate, bio-based potassium acetate, glycol, glycol acetate, and sodium formate.
Among all these products, potassium acetate is one that is widely used for de-icing and anti-icing runways and airplanes. The compound has various characteristics that make it a worthwhile product for these purposes. For instance, it:
• Can work in extreme cold sub-zero temperatures
• Has an unlimited storage life, which makes it one of the most used de-icers around the world
• Is not as slippery as glycols and thus, can be used on roads and runways without any worry
• Works longer than chemical and traditional methods like rock salts
• Dries quickly and make the surface ready to use in no time
• Is non-toxic and non-hazardous, and does not harm plant and animal life
• Is free from urea and phosphates and has a low BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand). This implies that it requires a lesser amount of biological oxygen to degrade completely
• Has been approved for de-icing of runways
However, potassium acetate should be used carefully under expert supervision as it reacts violently with oxidizing agents like nitrates and chlorides. As such, it should be stored separately. Once careful attention has been given to its storage and application, potassium acetate can prove to be an extremely effective de-icer for anyone looking for such products.
